Kudos to cabellas, Boo-Hiss to Itasca Archery

[jigglestick]

last saturday, I had promised my son we would get his new bow all set up so he could hunt this weekend.
so..I called the only local bow shop in the Grand Rapids area that I know of, Itasca archery.
I told them my son had a bow that needed set up so he could start using it.
he asked if we bought it there (itasca archery) and I told him we had not.
he then told me that if we didnt buy it there, he didnt have time to work on it!! >:(
I understand this is the busy season for this guy, but forgive me...turn down buisness in this day and age?
I dont care, you do what you have to to accomodate the customer. period!
if that means you have to hire extra help for a few weeks, then that's what you do.
not only did he not get my buisness, but he has lost it forever. I am here to spread the word of my experience with Itasca archery AND
praise the staff at cabella's archery department.
imediately after my call to Itasca archery, I called cabella's and asked them if there were any way they could set up a couple bows.
they said it may take an hour or so, but they could get right at it.
I drove the 2 3/4 hours to rogers with the boys and our bows.
they did get right on it, correcting the things I did wrong setting it up here at home the week before and helped my son determine whether he wanted to use a release or finger tabs.  they helped us figure out the arrow length, and adjusted the poundage to a comfortable level for my son.
they then took my old browning and put on a new sight, found a suitable quiver and also adjusted the draw weight on it as well, not once asking where we bought our equipment.
in two hours, including time to shop, we were out the door and back on the road.

these days buisnesses are so competitive, sometimes the only thing that can make the difference, is customer service. those who stand out in this category wil prevail. those who do not, may fail.

thanks to cabella's, we will be sitting in stands in the woods come saturday morning :)

[Benny]

I had bought my bow from GM in Fridley before they closed, as well as most of the accessories.
I then took it to Sportsmans warehouse to get it set up.

I got the same respect that you recieved from Cabela's, I even told them in advance I bought it at close out from GM.
They didn't care one bit, they just said to come in right away after they opened so they could get it set up before the rush started.

If Itasca did that to you then they deserve a bad rap big time.

Just a question though, why didn't you call reeds?
Are they closer that Rogers?

But then again, you had a good excusse to go to Cabela's then

Benny

[jigglestick]

Benny, Reeds archery guy only comes in on tuesday >:(
talk about missed opportunity.

[Mayfly]

If your in the metro another really nice bow shop is Bwana...these guys are very helpful!

There is a new shop in Maple Grove that is nice as well....Archery Specialists.

[Bufflehead]

 Jig, had much the same type of experence with Itasca Archery. the guy is kinda independent...maybe why he works for himself., Because most people he can't get along(Boss) with.

 As far as Reeds, if you don't talk to Chad or he isn't there, forget it!!! The rest are darn near Wal-mart quality

 

[Joe]

It can be a long day at the archery shop even in June. Most archery shops seem understaffed. I really liked going to Compound Doctor, but they closed a couple years ago. I hate the fact that if your buying a whole new bow package they seem to role out the red carpet, but if you just want a peep tied on, or some arrows fletched, you have just become a second class citizen. Glad to hear you got some good service at Cabala's. Actually that is where I bought my new bow and I had it completely set up there. They did a nice job.?

A coworker just bought a bow out at that place in Maple Grove. (Ross Bow?....never heard of them before.) Anyways, He's been very happy with the service out there. I guess the only draw back is they don't carry alot of inventory so some items may have to be ordered. No big deal I guess, unless you need it today.

[Bufflehead]

Quote
"thanks to cabella's, we will be sitting in stands in the woods come saturday morning "

-------------

 Whats? you invite us all up to a big party on Sat. and your going hunting? LOL

 Thats it, were going to drink all your beer! LOL

[tripnchip]

Way late on this but I just joined the forum and was browsing when I found your posting. I have bought my last two bows at Itasca Archery and have been treated good there but I did get the impresion that they could be as you stated. Not to make excuses for the guy but  I think he is stringing himself a little thin with the ful time teaching and the shop.
  It's a real bummer at times living in a area where the shopping opertunities are limited. The only other archery shop I know of is in Britt, north of Virgina. He is by apointment only and figures at least two hours for each apointment. He's another working stiff that opened the shop only because the shop in Viginia closed up. I have only been there once with a friend so cann't say what he is like to deal with.

[jigglestick]

welcome to MNoutdoorsman tripnchip!!

thanks for chiming in on this.
it was exactly as I stated. no b.s..
just ticked me off.
I am going to talk to rusty about opening up a archery deprtment.
I would have to think there are enough people into archery to warrant this. isnt there anything in hibbing>?

[tripnchip]

Thanks for the welcome.
 I hear of people that deal out of their house in Hibbing but can never pin down a # or addee for them. I think it is kind of a deal that if you belong to the hibbing archery club they will take care of you other wise forget it.
  Rusty's has realy changed since the faimly fisrt opened it. I have often wondered why he hasn't started carrying archery epuipment now that there are no shops in town. May be  to set up a real shop he would have to add on or rebuild and hire someone that knows archery.
  Wow, just noticed the time and I have to get  up for coffee at the shop and hit the ice.
 have a good one

[GRIZ]

There is one in St. Cloud I believe it's called archery country. Good service and they have an indoor range also.

[tripnchip]

Think it's been around 20 years since I have been in the St. Cloud area. Me and my bro. hunted just out of Bemidji a few years and there was a shop there. It seems once you get 100mles or so from my home front you can start finding shops. Most anything you can find in this area is a secoundary income for the owner, like Itasca Archery.

[tripnchip]

jiggerstick, I did a little looking and there are two shops in bemidji you might want to check out for future reference. One is the Gander Mt. Store and the other is Johns Bow Shop 218-755-6150.
 Grizz, I went to  archery country web. site, looks like it is one heck of a shop. I think it was 10 different brands of bow they carried. I may have to sneak out of the house some day just to go look.